Things to Do in McDonough

Georgia Aquatic Center keeps amphibious folks well hydrated with four pools specifically designed for fun and fitness. Catering to the young, the young at heart, and recently switched Freaky Friday victims, the outdoor beach and slide pools boast easy-access ramped entry, three tube slides, an ever-sprinkling sprayer, and a splashy manmade waterfall. Indoors, the competitive and aerobics pools are tailored to lap swimmers and lesson takers, maintaining a constantly balmy temperature of 82–85 degrees. These temperature-controlled oases can also be rented out for birthday parties regardless of the season, and provide a training ground for swim teams, stroke-and-turn clinics, and lifeguard training.

Whether wearing a horned Viking helmet—cheekily dubbed the official Wine-Making Hat—or working bareheaded, the team at Warm Springs Winery crafts an array of muscadine wines. The sweet red and off-dry varieties of muscadine are produced from grapes grown in Georgia. As guests sample wines from souvenir glasses, they can gaze into Warm Springs’ pond, where lotus flowers float above a family of colorful koi.

Baldwin Bowling Center’s 24 polished lanes reflect gleaming overhead lights and the competitive glint in bowlers’ eyes as they rack up spares and strikes with gutter-hugging curves. Automatic scoring systems keep track of each frame, freeing up bowlers to focus on hunting elusive turkeys and clearing the gutters of dried-up pins. The bowling center’s snack bar replaces energy lost while hurling balls or smashing buttons in the arcade room, which harbors games designed to further test one’s sharpshooting accuracy. During cosmic bowling on Friday and Saturday evenings, glowing lights flood the lanes and the sounds of pins crashing share the airwaves with pulsating dance beats. Make reservations ahead of time to bowl from Sunday through Wednesday.